Replaced CDP w/ Transport; Now, Soundstage Changes Dramatically w/each CD. Why?

williewonka, jond: thanks for the cable suggestions. Will check them out. 

boxer12: I haven't heard of Isoacoustic before. Presently, I've got the old style Stillpoints under the Heed. Will look into it. 

stuartk OP
 perceived soundstage also varies between different recordings.

This is a fact, my Cambridge CXC CD transport shows this up very well.
And it was also compared to the OP's Jolida transport also owned by the TNT-Audio reviewer Chris Templer, this is what he said of the A/B comparison between the Cambridge CXC and his Jolida JD100.

Quote: Chris Templer TNT-Audio Cambridge Audio CXC CD Transport review.
"To say there is a big difference would not be an exaggeration, the CXC clearly reads better than the Jolida. Playing music that had been ripped to the server via pc was always cleaner than the Jolida, which I had put down to the effects of the valve output and DAC. Comparing digital out on the Jolida to the CXC there is a vast difference with the Cambridge extracting more information (detail, air and ambient space) and less fuzziness (or cleaner sound). The CXC also trumps the sound of the same disc ripped via pc to the server."

Cheers George

"Another thing to consider for soundstage definition improvement is what sits under your components."

Agreed - I have had great success using 3 brass cones under all of my components. I also tried wood cones, which provided audible improvements, but the brass cones provided a little more detail and clarity.

In my case, the components sit on a granite tile with a thin rubberized mat between it and the MDF shelf. 

The brass cones vary in diameter/depth, from a 2.5" dia cone 1.25" high for the turntable down to 3/4" dia cone 1/4" high for my Bluesound Node streamer.

Unfortunately, all of the cones were custom made so I cannot recommend a brand, but there are some good commercially available products out there.

Regards - Steve

If one transport is level and the other one isn’t guess which one will sound better. And have a better and more revealing soundstage. The first two guesses don’t count.

georgehifi5: yes, I'd agree that (even my modded) Jolida does exhibit "fuzziness".  Funny-- it was Chris Templer's review of the JD 100 that inspired me to look at it in the first place. 

williewonka: I guess I'm in the minority re: brass. I have some brass footers and having been dissatisfied no matter where I've tried them, they now serve as "book-ends" on my CD shelves. Perhaps not all brass footers are the same? Mine are Edensound. I prefer ceramic cones and as mentioned, the original Stillpoints. 

geoffkait: this may be a dumb question, but unless components have some sort of threaded, adjustable feet, how does one "level" components?